Chapter 20


    At this moment, Martha brought some fruits and said, “Serena, you’ve been busy all morning. Would


    you like to have some fruits?”


    Before Serena could thank her, Martha whispered, “Miss Serena, there’s something I’d like to talk to


    you about.”


    Serena nced at her, understanding what she meant. She saw another servant working nearby and


    stood up, saying, “Martha, take the fruits to the garden, and I’ll eat there.”


    “Sure.”


    Carrying the fruits, Martha followed Serena to a secluded corner of the garden. Seeing that there was


    no one around, she couldn’t help but express her concern, “Miss Serena, you’ve been through a lot! In


    the past, you wouldn’t have needed to go to such lengths to please Mr. and Mrs. McMillian.” Serena


    lowered her gaze, hershes hiding the disappointment that emanated from her. While her eyes


    couldn’t be seen, her despondent aura was palpable.


    In truth, she didn’t want to act this way, but in this household, Arabe’s status would only grow


    stronger while hers would diminish. At this moment, she still had a chance to catch up.


    “Miss Serena, these are all imported fruits, and I’ve cut some of each for you. Please, eat them. You


    didn’t have much in the morning…”


    Martha’s empathy was heartwarming. “Oh, and I wanted to tell you that for now, they haven’t revealed


    Ms. Bet’s identity to the public, so in the eyes of outsiders, your engagement with Mr. McMillian is


    still valid…”


    Serena’s eyes instantly lit up. Yes, Romeo, she still had Romeo…


    What did it matter if she was the daughter of the Collins family? As long as she married Romeo, she


    would be on top of the world!


    “You’ve grown up with Mr. McMillian since childhood. Although you haven’t met often, you still spent


    more time with him than that Ms. Bet! She probably hasn’t even seen Mr. McMillian in person!”


    “Martha, are you suggesting…?” Serena had a rough idea of what Martha was getting at, but she dared


    not say it, nor could she.


    “I know some people from the McMillian family, and a few of them work at Phillip’s vi. I heard that


    these days, in order to force Mr. McMillian to show up, Phillip hasn’t been eating or taking his medicine,


    and he’s practically on the brink of copse!”


    Serena covered her mouth, clearly startled by the revtion.


    “But luckily they got to him in time and he’s still kicking! He’s hoping you and Mr. McMillian can pay him


    a visit. Don’t you have Mr. McMillian’s contact? Why not ask him out?”


    “But…”


    “He’s running a huge corporation, so he’s definitely busy. But no matter how busy he is, he’s still a red-


    blooded male! If a pretty girl like you asks him out, he’ll definitely be tempted.”


    Martha was confident. “Even if he’s slow on the uptake when ites to romance and isn’t thinking


    about marriage yet, there’s no rush. You can spend more time with him, build a stronger connection.


    Once you two are tight, who cares about Ms. Bet?!”


    “Phillip has always wanted to arrange your marriage. If you gain his approval… what’s there to fret


    about? You’re practically gonna be his grandchild’s spouse!”


    Serena’s desires were reignited, but her rationality held her back.


    “Martha, the Collins and McMillian families are engaged, but we both know… that engagement actually


    belongs to my sister… I’m just a foster daughter.”


    Serena seemed slightly swayed by her words.


    “Now is the time, while the McMillians are still in the dark about Ms. Bet. Serena, make your move.


    This is your best shot!”


    Martha had watched her grow up over the years and didn’t want to see her in such a state.


    With Mr. McMillian by her side, she could make a name for herself nationwide!


    “Ms. Bet is of high status and won’t have trouble finding a good family to marry into. But you’re


    different! You don’t have parents or a powerful backing. You’re just a foster daughter of the Collins


    family, and who knows if they’ll still acknowledge you in the future! You know how high society works.


    As a foster daughter, marrying well is a tough sell! If you don’t marry Mr. McMillian, you’ll be


    overshadowed by Ms. Bet for the rest of your life, always inferior to her!!”


    Upon Martha’s persuasion, Serena took out her phone and pulled up Romeo’s WhatsApp. There were


    messages she had sent before.


    The messages were things like “Are you asleep?”, “Are you busy today?”, “Goodnight”, but Romeo had


    never responded to any of them.


    Thest time she made contact was yesterday, when she had just returned and asked him if he was


    there. He didn’t reply.


    “Miss!”


    Martha said a lot more, and Serena finally stopped resisting. She opened the chat and sent several


    messages in a row.


    [Romeo, are you there?]


    [I heard your grandpa is sick and in the hospital. Let’s go see him, okay?]


    [When are you free today? Can youe pick me up?]


    [If not, I can have my driver take me. It won’t be any trouble for you.]


    N?vel/Dr(a)ma.Org - Content owner.


    [I’m really worried about Grandpa Phillip!]


    On the second floor.


    16:20


    Arabe arrived at the spacious balcony and admired the view.


    As she was looking, the noticed two figures in the distance apparently discussing something.


    She was too far away to hear the contents, but the could tell that those two were Serena and Martha


    Serena was sitting in a white wicker chair, and Martha was standing next to her, seemingly persuading


    her about something


    Arabe wasn’t bothered, and after admiring the views bit more, she went back inside, leaving only


    Serena and Martha in the garden, nervously staring at the phone


    Unlike before, a new message alert quickly appeared on Serena’s phone screen


    Serena’s heart nearly pumped out of her chest. She looked closely, and sure enough, it was from


    Romest


    Romeo had replied


    Romeo had finally repled


    But his response was toy No need]


    Serena’s burning heart felt like it had been doused with cold water It went cold in an instant


    Une Martha’s bad influence, Serena sent a few more messages, saying she was really worried about


    his grandpa, and knowing he was sick, he’d probably appreciate someone visiting She was just looking


    out for Grandpa Phillip on behalf of the Collins family


    By the time lunch was over, Serena still didn’t hear back from Romeo


    She had a hunch that Romeo on the other side was probably not gonna reply


    Meanwhile, Arabe was sitting on the couch with her phone in hand, sending out orders.


    Look up the cause of the fire at Mercy Hospital on September 10th, eighteen years ago for me”


    Jeff Boss? Are you pulling my leg? Mercy Hospital??”


    That was located at the intersection of three cities, with a he big andplicated poption, and so


    much time had passed, that ce was long


    gone


    Jeff Boss, why are you looking into this? Does it have something to do with your past?”


    Arabe “Mhm”


    Arabe always felt that the fire was fishy Everything was fine one moment, then suddenly there was a


    fire?


    Her mom told her it was a rainy night. Even if someone identally started a fire, it shouldn’t have


    spread that fast.